Women Who Shape the Plateau: Sarah Jennings

Written By: Ann Self | Issue: Winter - 2023 | Photograph By: Mary Gilian

Sonya Carpenter and Sarah Jennings

Sarah Jennings considers conservation as a legacy to protect and preserve. Her husband first brought her in 2002 to what was then the Jennings’ family 800-acre farm retreat, Lonesome Valley. “My husband and his family grew up spending time on the land,” she says. “Lonesome Valley has been a special place for generations. I think [it] is a model for responsible growth and development. It preserves the integrity of the land to ensure that it continues to be special for future generations.”    

Rich with history dating back to 1895, Lonesome Valley was originally established as a mink and trout farm by Richard Jennings, Sr. in 1948. Then, in 2007 when change in the area was undeniable, the Jennings family determined to create a community that reflected their values of land conservation and natural resource stewardship. So, ten years after her first visit and many years of working in Washington, D.C. in events and marketing, Sarah and her family moved to Cashiers to participate in the family’s development. Her role since that time has been to oversee events and marketing for Lonesome Valley, including helping build a coherent brand identity and message aligned with the community vision.  “I felt it was important as a resident [myself] as well as producing a product for visitors [and clients] to maintain the family character,” Sarah says, “I worked together with incredible people like Brien Peterkin, Thomas Bates, John and Marcia McCarley, and Thomas Platt. I was fortunate that it was a team that supported that vision.”  That team came up with the Lonesome Valley tag line, “naturally inspired.” “That is a touch point for many things that reflect what is important to conserve. Trails, buildings, meadows.  Everything is driven by that mentality.” Another example, Canyon Kitchen was developed to be dining with sustainable cuisine and seasonally grown vegetables.  

Thomas Platt says that continuing that naturally inspired legacy for her sons was an important part of her desire to conserve the land.  He says, “When Sarah and Rich first moved to Cashiers, Lonesome Valley was their home for many, many years.  She wanted to be able to have her boys grow up in a neighborhood as the family had, where you wake up and go hiking or you go fishing.” 

Sarah says that her participation in establishing a community dedicated to preserving the unique essence of the land and a distinctive sense of place has been the highlight of her career with Lonesome Valley.  She sees how its progression is deeply rooted in history, and she values the personal connections made over time.  This is what makes her passionate about Cashiers and preserving its character. “I have a deep appreciation for the people who have lived and worked the land on the Plateau over time…generations of families that have lived here,” she observes. “I never stop being awe inspired. There is always somewhere to explore and something to learn.  There is a magic to this place.”

by Ann Self